Are We There Yet? Traveling the trail--then and now, a very nice web site published by students at the Robert Gray Middle School, Portland Oregon

Echoes of Oregon A Brief History of the Oregon Territorial Period from the Oregon State Archives

"End of the Oregon Trail" Interpretive Center in Oregon City, Oregon. Uses living history interpretations and exhibits that immerse visitors in the dreams, desires and adventures of those who made the journey west. This facility was constructed in the shape of three covered wagons.

The Oregon Trail Starting in 1843, a steady progression of emigrants began traveling the Oregon Trail. Thousands came west. Some said it was Manifest Destiny and the will of God that America should expand from sea to sea. Others saw it as opportunity.

Oregon Trail Timelines From 1792 to 1843 this extensive site mixes descriptions of important events and people with details, trivia, and a list of sources. It's best if you have a specific year in mind before you try to use the Time Frame for research--just scroll down to the year you want.

The Oregon Trail Timeline What was happening in other parts of the West and the "States" during the time of the Oregon Trai from 1841 to 1866. From the "End of the Oregon Trail" pages.

Who Discovered the South Pass? The Detroit Advertiser having asserted that Fremont was the discoverer of the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, a correspondent of the Detroit Free Press denies the truth of statement and the editor of that journal publishes this letter from Ramsay Crooks, Esq., of New York in June 1856.

Cutoffs In Wyoming By 1850, the Oregon-Mormon-California trail system had developed almost as many shortcuts as there were wagon masters. The emigrants called them "Cutoffs." This site has a short description of them through Wyoming.

The Dalles Military Road To Ft. Boise through Canyon City. This article, written and published in 1869 in The Canyon City Journal, sheds some light on the political actions behind the construction of early "roads."

Emigrant Gap The spring of 1845 saw the first covered wagons to surmount the Sierra Nevada mountains. They left this valley, ascended to the ridge and turned westward to Old Emigrant Gap. The wagons were lowered by ropes to the floor of Bear Valley.

The Hastings Cutoff across the Great Salt Lake Desert. A very complete history of this trail, also includes a gallery of photos, biographies, diaries and journals

The Hudspeth Cutoff Although short in length, the Hudspeth Cutoff, which left the main trail near Soda Springs and rejoined the main trail near Malta, Idaho, is a significant part of the western migration and can be enjoyed because the Trail is still visible in many places.

The Nobles Emigrant Trail In 1852, William H. Nobles set out with a prospecting party to explore a route that would bring emigrants directly to Shasta City. He started out by folllowing the Applegate Trail.

Sublette Cutoff Eighteen miles west of South Pass, the emigrants came to the first of many decision points on the road to California. Sublette's Cutoff offered a direct route west to the Bear River eliminating the southern dog-leg to Fort Bridger
followed by the older, established emigrant road.

Travel By Sea Memoirs of Eugene Ring who traveled on a long sea voyage from New York to the gold fields of California, published by his grandson, Steven Ring

Treks along the Oregon Trail in Wyoming with the Wyoming OCTA chapter.

The Route to Oregon Via Antarctica! Not everyone who went to Oregon used the Oregon Trail. There were other routes, including this one that went perilously close to Antarctica

The Dalles It was here that Jason Lee set up a Methodist mission in 1838. History does not tell us how many were converted at Lee's tiny outpost, but The Dalles did become a critical stop for the emigrants.

The Dalles: A History The area began as an Indian home thousands of years before white men came. They called the area Win-Quatt, meaning a place encircled by rock cliffs

Emigrant Springs State Park Early emigrants blazed trails and established routes, and in the Blue Mountains many along with James W. Nesmith, emigrant of 1843, "went in advance and cut timber all day." Although later emigrants found a well- worn path to Oregon, they too often had to clear the trail of rocks, fallen trees, and other debris.

Historical Museums in Oregon Oregon pioneers began early by preserving the historic records. Historical museums are now found in nearly every city in the state.

History of Oregon Names Places are named after animals, disasters, people, and other assorted things. This is especially true in Oregon, pioneers traveled from the East to the "new frontier" and valleys, creeks, and other landmarks were named along the way.

Sisters: A History A crossroads for Native American travelers from the Willamette Valley to the West, the Columbia River to the north, and the high desert country to the east and south.

Union County, OR: Oregon Trail Attractions Although early travelers on the Oregon Trail had their sights on reaching the famed Willamette Valley, still over 250 miles way, many emigrant journals comment on the beauty of the Grande Ronde Valley, its rich soil, and the likelihood that it would make top quality farmland.

Fort Vancouver The final stop on the Trail for many of the emigrants was Ft. Vancouver--the massive British outpost on the north bank of the Columbia.

OCTAs On-Line Bookstore OCTA has one of the most comprehensive bookstores for trail literature about all the Trails West, including Emigrant Diaries, Women's Experiences, Mountain Men, and Indian Affairs. OCTA members get a 10% discount off all book orders.

The Oregon-California Trails Association's regional or state chapters that have web sites include: